LATIN AMERICA | 05-08-2019 15:00

Colombia to authorise nationality for 24,000 Venezuelan children

The children were the victims of a legal loophole that prevented them from obtaining their parents' nationality due to "insurmountable obstacles" but left them without Colombian nationality due to legislation that doesn't recognise citizenship based on place of birth.

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The head of the Colombian National Registration Office of Civil Status Juan Carlos Galindo (left) signs a decree that allows the nationalisation of 24,000 children of Venezuelan parents born in Colombia next to Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo (centre) and Colombian President Iván Duque, in Bogotá. | AFP/Juan Barreto

Colombia President Iván Duque signed an order on Monday allowing 24,000 children born in the country to Venezuelan parents and risking statelessness to be given Colombian nationality.

The children were the victims of a legal loophole that prevented them from obtaining their parents' nationality due to "insurmountable obstacles" but left them without Colombian nationality due to legislation that doesn't recognise citizenship based on place of birth.

"Today Colombia has shown the world that despite economic limitations, that even though we have revenues of less than $8,000 per capita, much less than European countries that have experienced migration crises, we know how to turn brotherhood into a feeling of solidarity," said Duque.

He claimed the children were unable to get Venezuelan nationality because Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro's government had ceased to provide a consular service or documentation in Colombia.

Caracas broke off diplomatic relations with Bogotá in February over Duque's support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself acting president in January in a direct challenge to Maduro's authority, sparking a power struggle that has ground to an impasse.

The measure, which will be valid for two years, allows children born to Venezuelan parents from August 19, 2015 to be given Colombian nationality.

Venezuela is mired ion one of the worst economic crises in its history with a quarter of its 30 million population in need of aid, according to the United Nations.

More than 3.2 million Venezuelans have left the country since the start of 2016, the UN says, with Colombia taking in the largest number of migrants, 1.3 million.

Colombia's Foreign Minster Carlos Holmes Trujillo said Colombia had received US$950,000 from the UN Children's Fund, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation of Migration.

"The international community is lacking a lot in terms of attention and help when you compare the figures with similar situations in other parts of the world," said Duque.